ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 95 



tannica, shown to the Romans as a remedy. The Cochlearia officinalis 

 may be compared. — This is a Northern plant, not found in Greece ; 

 and according to Clot-Bey and Figari, only recently introduced into 

 Egypt. 



The Acer gallicum of Pliny xvi. 26, seems to correspond with the 

 Acer pseudo-platanus. — This is a Northern tree, seen by Forskal 

 at Constantinople ; but not found in Greece by Sibthorp. According 

 to Clot-Bey and Figari, both this and the A. platanoides (another 

 North European tree) have been recently introduced into Egypt, 

 where they are now planted in gardens.* 



In " A. D. 79," the accession of Titus, the tenth Roman Emperor, 

 took place. 



The Eruption of Vesuvius on the " 24th of August" in the same 

 year, overwhelming the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, forms a 

 striking chronological landmark. The brevity of the reign of Titus, 

 leaves but slight room for error in the date ; the event being attended 

 by the death of Pliny, limits his Encyclopedic summary of the state 

 of human knowledge ; while coeval testimony, amply illustrating the 

 whole condition of society, is found in the vast variety of objects dis- 

 interred.f 



VII. THE EARLY CHRISTIAN, OR THE COPTIC PERIOD. 



In this extraordinary manner, two Heathen cities, all but their inha- 

 bitants, have been preserved ; and from about the latest possible mo- 

 ment : Josephus was even then announcing the continued existence of 

 a new religious sect : but in no instance, have the walls of the buried 

 cities been found to include a Christian relic. 



* The convolvulus of Pliny xxi. 11, may be compared with the Convolvulus 

 septum. — This plant was seen by Sibthorp in Greece ; but appears to have remained 

 unknown in Egypt. 



The GROMPH^NA of Pliny xxvi. 23, may be compared with the Amaranthus tri- 

 color. — The "gelisia" of Hildegard ii. 153, is referred by Sprengel to the same plant. 

 The A. tricolor is figured by Lobel ; and according to Graham, is cultivated in the gar- 

 dens of Hindostan : but it appears to be unknown in Egypt. 



f Among these objects, are seeds and fruits ; which have been carefully collected, and 

 are now deposited in the museum at Naples ; but I am not aware, that any account of 

 them has been published. 



